The Coming Of Spring

Spring is just around the corner. And with it comes
all the lovely pollen. Lots of people have no problem
with spring. They welcome it with open arms.

But for thousands of people, spring means runny noses,
itchy eyes and congested breathing. These people
suffer from an allergy. Probably the most common
allergy, affecting the most people is the allergy to
pollen.

Spring brings new growth and with this new growth,
plants have the urge to produce fruit or seeds.

Basically, pollen is created by the male plant parts
and taken to the female plant parts. While some plants
depend on insects to do their pollinating, many use
the wind.

The pollen grains are carried by the wind to other
plants to keep the species alive and flourishing.

Most people are just annoyed by the collection of
pollen on their automobiles, porch, patio and
everything else that sits around outside. But for the
people allergic to pollen, their problems are more
than annoying.

The most common symptoms of an allergy to pollen can
be seen every where. Runny noses, itchy watery eyes,
sneezing and coughing are yearly evidence that spring
is in the air.

The pollen irritates the areas that come into contact
with air. That means eyes, nose, throat and lungs. As
the pollen blows on the wind, it causes problems that
turn the joy and beauty of spring into anything from a
nuisance to a nightmare for the thousands that suffer
from this allergy.

Heres A Test To Fail

To diagnose an allergy, the first thing your doctor
does is talk with you. Hell discuss your symptoms,
any medications youre currently taking, and your
personal and family history. A physical examination is
also necessary.

The next step is the tests. There are 3 types of
tests. The skin test, patch test or blood test.

The skin test is the most common test used. Its
generally the most accurate and certainly the least
expensive. With the skin test, a small amount of an
allergen is put on your skin and then the spot is
pricked or scratched with a needle. You can also have
a little bit of the allergen injected into the outer
layer of your skin.

If you have an allergy to the substance that was used,
youll have swelling, redness and itching in the
tested spot within 20 minutes.

The patch test is used to diagnose contact dermatitis.
A small amount of allergen is put on your skin and
covered with a bandage. Your doctor will check the
spot in 48 hours to see if youve developed a rash.

The third type of test is the blood test. This may be
used if you have a skin condition or if youre taking
some type of medication that might interfere with a
skin test.

A blood sample is taken and sent to a laboratory.
There they add allergens to the sample and measure the
amount of antibodies that are produced to attack it.

Eczema Treatment at Home

Treating your eczema may vary depending on the kind of eczema you have. For most cases eczema treatment can be pretty easy as just changing your kind of laundry soap you use. Though, for some cases it can be much harder. You may have to move to a whole different place with a better climate or treating your eczema can force you to change your occupation. The key to preventing eczema is finding out what triggers your allergic reaction. Here are a few tips to help you.

Your skin can be very sensitive, so its best to keep it moisturized. To do this, avoid taking cold showers. Take warm showers or baths and moisturize your skin after. Use a lotion or cream that is non-irritating and odorless. Make sure the products you use do not contain any ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction.

When picking out your outfit for the day, try to avoid tight-fitting clothing and things that may make you itch or chafe. As much as possible try to wear light and loose clothes. These are definitely more comfortable and will prevent irritating your sensitive skin.

As much as possible, when your skin is irritated avoid making it worse by scratching. The trick here is to cover it with a dressing or by wearing thick gloves that can lessen the damage from scratching. If you find that you cant control yourself from scratching that annoying itch, then try to do as lightly as possible or finding ways to protect your skin from self-abrasion.

Another thing that you should also remember is that you shouldnt exert yourself physically when youre having a break out. Try not to sweat because it aggravates youre the areas that are affected by eczema. If you feel like you really have to exercise a lot, try to stick with exercise routines that wont cause your body to sweat as much. Make your routine as light as possible.

If you have taken all these steps and the situation is not getting any better, then you may not have identified what causes the allergy break outs. The next best thing would be to try and decrease the response from allergic inflammation.

To make the rash disappear you have to apply a few things regularly in a certain number of days. Application of hydrocortisone together with anti-itching lotions is usually what you need. You should try to slather these on as often as you can and until your rash has disappeared completely. Benadryl is also a very effective medication though it does make you really drowsy so you have to make sure youre not doing anything that will require your full attention.

Clean your rashes with hypoallergenic soap to prevent aggravating it. Always remember to moisturize and lubricate the affected areas after washing. You should try to also stay in relaxed environments. Keep away from any physical or mental stress. Keep a healthy diet and rest a lot. This will help prevent flares.

Eczema treatment at home is easier but it results will show slowly and gradually over time. Just trying to cure your eczema in an instant is nearly impossible and most unlikely. Dont expect a miracle because treating this can and will definitely take time.

Just hope for the best and continue treating it with this guide and help from a doctor.